Crans-Montana Fire: 24 Dead in Swiss Resort Blaze

Flames Ravage Popular Ski Resort, Leaving Dozens Dead

Crans-Montana, Switzerland—A late-night fire tore through a packed bar in this postcard-perfect Alpine resort on Friday, killing 24 people, many of them teenagers celebrating the end of ski season. By dawn, the snow-dusted streets were choked with ambulances and satellite trucks as investigators sealed off the blackened shell of what had been, only hours earlier, a neon-lit hotspot pulsing with music and laughter.

"It Was a Wall of Fire"

Witnesses say the blaze began near the DJ booth shortly after 23:00, spreading through foam-covered ceilings and vintage pine paneling originally installed for rustic charm. Within minutes, the exit lights failed.

"The lights flickered, then the hallway turned orange," recalls 19-year-old ski instructor Livia Maret, who escaped by crawling through a kitchen vent. "People were slipping on beer, grabbing coats that were already on fire."

Teenagers Among the Victims

Local authorities confirmed that 16 of the dead were under 21, including a group of Belgian high-schoolers on an end-of-term ski trip. Their chaperone, 42-year-old math teacher Elise Debruyne, survived with second-degree burns and was among the first to phone emergency services.

"We send children to Crans-Montana for adventure, not to come home in coffins," Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo told reporters at Brussels Airport, where a military C-130 landed with the victims' remains Sunday morning.

Criminal Probe Targets Bar Management

Valais prosecutor Anne-Catherine Ries announced Saturday that a criminal investigation has been opened against the bar’s two managers and the building’s owner, citing potential "involuntary manslaughter through safety negligence."

• Fire exits were reportedly padlocked to prevent patrons from skipping tabs.
• The venue’s last safety inspection, in 2019, predated a 2021 renovation that added banquettes blocking secondary doors.
• Survivor accounts suggest the sprinkler system never activated.

"We will leave no stone unturned," Ries vowed. "If corners were cut for profit, those responsible will be held accountable."

A Resort Town Shattered

Crans-Montana, long favored by European royalty and Middle Eastern diplomats, now faces existential questions. Tourism accounts for nearly half its annual revenue; bookings are already down 60 percent for the upcoming Easter break, according to the regional hospitality association.

Local florist Marina Toller sold out of white lilies by midday Saturday. "People want to mourn, but they also want answers," she said, arranging candles into the shape of a heart outside the cordoned-off bar. "This town feels like it’s lost its soul."

What Comes Next

Swiss President Alain Berset will attend a memorial Mass Monday at the 16th-century Église Saint-Maurice. Meanwhile, forensic teams from Bern continue combing through ash and melted aluminum, searching for clues that might prevent another Alpine tragedy.

Back on the slopes, chairlifts keep turning, their rhythmic hum a jarring counterpoint to the hush that has fallen over the village below.